Some say loyalty in football is dead.

However, when it comes to Lionel Messi and Barcelona, that statement couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Argentine arrived in Spain when he was just 13-years-old and after breaking through the academy ranks, he’d go on to make his senior debut aged 17.

Since then, Messi has gone on to be arguably the best footballer on the planet at the moment.

And one of the main keys behind his success is his decision to remain at Barcelona this whole time.

However, that may not have always been the case.

That’s because Messi has admitted that he has strongly considered leaving the Spanish giants in the past.

2013 and 2014 proved to be difficult years for the Argentine off the field due to the fact he was at the centre of a row with Spanish tax authorities whereby he was forced to pay £223,000.

And during that time, Messi was tempted to walk out of the Nou Camp and out of the country.

Speaking in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1, he said: “There were moments in which I was tired for so many reasons.

"There were times, in 2013 and 2014 when I had the problem with the Hacienda [Spanish tax authorities].

"In that time I had in my head to leave, not because I wanted to leave Barca, but because I wanted to leave Spain.

"I felt badly treated and didn't want to be here any more, I had the door open to many clubs."

"It was very difficult for me and my family because people don't know much about what's going on.

"The truth is that it was hard for everything that happened but it is better that my children were small and did not know."

Fast forward five years though and Messi is still scoring for fun and winning trophies in a Barcelona shirt.